Above Ground

Visiting Information

18 Dec 2006

Nils Norman

Above Ground

A fantasy map of the Piccadilly line

This fantasy map of the Piccadilly line was designed by artist Nils Norman. It shows a series of unrealised and fantastical buildings and systems alongside other artists’ unrealised proposals for London. The map was part of a series of projects for the Piccadilly line, called Thin Cities, commissioned as part of celebrations to mark the centenary of the Piccadilly line in 2006.

Nils Norman was also commissioned to make a new work for Piccadilly Circus. The piece took the form of a mural transforming the landscape in the vicinity of the station. To see images of the exhibition in situ, scroll along the bar at the top of this page.

Thin Cities responded to the theme of past, present and future and was inspired by the travels of the 14th Century explorer Marco Polo, as retold in the book Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino. Each artist commissioned for Thin Cities engaged with a different aspect of the Piccadilly line and its history, resulting in a site specific group exhibition on a grand scale. As explorers and storytellers themselves, the artists revealed new perspectives on London through their artworks.